Brought to you by Seahorse magazine, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to

15 Boats Black Flagged at West Marine J/70 World Championships Marblehead, MA, USA: There were thrills and spills on the third day of the West Marine J/70 World Championships with 15 teams falling foul of the Black Flag during the three races held. Flatter seas and a shifting nor-easterly provided yet another different day for the 91 teams racing for the J/70 World Championships. Eight of the maximum 14 races have now been sailed, and challengers for the championship are now emerging.

It was a day of high and lows for Peter Duncan (USA) racing Relative Obscurity. The defending J/70 World Champion did the business in Race 6, scoring their first bullet of the regatta but was disqualified in Race 7 for being OCS with the Black Flag flying. Race 8, Duncan's team scored a fourth to finish the day at the top of the rankings, on countback from Jud Smith (USA).

Jose Maria Torcida (ESP) was leading the regatta at the start of the day but a 7-43-31 drops the Spanish team to third. Bruno Pasquinelli (USA) racing Stampede is in fourth place just four points off the lead. Jack Franco racing 3 Ball JT scored a bullet today to move up to fifth. Brian Keane (USA) racing Savasana drops to sixth after a 18-17-26. Congratulations should also go to Gannon Troutman (USA) racing Pied Piper who won the last race of the day.

In the Corinthian Class Luis Bugallo (ESP) Marnatura has extended their lead with two solid results today

Racing for the 2018 West Marine J/70 World Championship continues tomorrow, Friday September 28 with racing scheduled to start at 1100 local time.

Perfect conditions for close racing in Cannes 13 knots, flat water, sun, blue skies and the stunning backdrop of the mount Esterel overlooking the Bay of Cannes. Who could ask for more on the opening day of the 40th Regates Royales - Trophee Panerai, after two days of waiting for the right conditions? All sails up, the armada of 200 classics, Dragons and 5,50 offered a display of beauty and elegance and racing was as close as it could be.

In the Big Boats division, Moonbeam of Fife is leading the provisional ranking, having managed to keep at bay serious contenders like Mariska and Hallowe'en. Perfectly at ease in today's medium wind conditions, the gaff cutter Kelpie (1903) leads on Kismet and Viola while among the huge schooners, with their immense sail plan of over 1,000 square metre, Elena sits in first ahead of Mariette. In the other group early leaders are Sagittarius (Classic Racer), Yanira (Classic), Cippino (Marconi de plus de 15 m), Fjord III (Marconi de moins de 15 m) and Vanessa (Spirit of Tradition).

Three races today for the 50-boat strong Dragon fleet and a three-way battle has already opened up, with Blue Haze skippered by UK's Ivan Bradbury, Anatoly Longinov's Russian-flagged Annapurna and Germany's NN helmed by Nicola Friesen occupy the provisional podium spots, divided only by 4 points after four races with one discard.

Tomorrow, the weather conditions should remain ideal with some 10/13 knots of wind and another sunny, warm day.

The day's number: 13 It's the number of boats celebrating their anniversary, 50 years or older

Don't be fooled The yachts may be (very) big, (very) fast and (very) beautiful, but the WallyCento fleet is every bit as obsessed with sailing balance as any other smaller racing class. So moving the rig at sea to maintain optimum rudder angle... of course sir

While Wallycento owners have used different talents to design and build their yachts, they all turn to Southern Spars/Future Fibres for masts and rigging. With a race-winning pedigree at Grand Prix level and awardwinning expertise in superyacht rigs, the company is perfectly equipped for the Wallycento blend of performance and luxury cruising.

Back in the early 1990s, when Luca Bassani burst onto the superyacht scene, he brought innovations that defined a bold and uncompromising new aesthetic, which shifted the entire industry and continues to influence its direction.

His beautiful, pared-back Wally yachts, with sharp, angular lines and acres of teak spread across flush decks, became elegant exemplars of contemporary design.

Given his own background in competitive sailing, Bassani would never be content with good looks alone. With European and World titles in Six Metre and Mumm 30 classes, he demanded and achieved the highest levels of performance and efficiency in his cruising yachts.

A $1m Deal? Australian Nathan Outteridge has been linked to prospective Italian America's Cup challenger Columbus 2021 with a huge wage on offer.

Defenders Emirates Team New Zealand confirm they are in formal talks with Columbus 2021 whose participation would bolster the challenging fleet to four alongside Challenger Of Record Luna Rossa, American Magic of the New York Yacht Club and Sir Ben Ainslie's INEOS Team UK.

The ambitious Columbus 2021 has spoken of a multinational crew and a need to be "competitive with other teams in every respect".

They said there were in discussions with a skipper "of high performance classes" and the Italian media has been quick to look at who that might be.

The well-informed La Stampa reported on Friday that "rumours are swirling" about Outteridge, who was on the helm of Sweden's Artemis Racing for the last two America's Cups, being involved.

Day 1 RC44 World Championship - Bronenosec's two bullet surprise Two bullets from three races left the Kirill Frolov-steered Bronenosec Sailing Team was the stand-out boat on the opening day of the RC44 World Championship. With winds starting at around 12 knots and building into the high teens, plus relatively flat water and shorts and T-shirt temperatures, Cascais laid on tourist board-approved conditions. However this was only after a wise call to wait ashore for the wind to fill in by PRO Peter Reggio and the race management team from the Real Club Nautico de Cascais.

The first race was decided on the first run. Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika was technically first coming into the top mark, but had Bronenosec Sailing Team outside of her with better pace. Bronenosec bravely held on starboard, as the rest of the fleet gybed, and found herself clear ahead by the time she crossed Team Nika. From there she was never challenged.

In race two there were some start line antics with Peninsula Petroleum performing a late duck down to win the pin while Nico Poons' Charisma found herself locked out behind the race committee boat. Meanwhile Team CEEREF started strongly midline and playing the middle of the race track ultimately enabled them to lead at the top mark ahead of John Bassadone's Peninsula Petroleum. The Slovenian 2017 RC44 Championship Tour winners managed to stay in front on for the remainder of the race.

Gildas Morvan takes a look at the IMOCA class An experienced sailor having in particular taken part 21 times in the demanding Solitaire du Figaro, Gildas Morvan was assistant to the race director, Jacques Caraes at the Azimut Challenge last weekend in Lorient. He was able to take a close look at the performance of the various IMOCAs taking part. He gives us his analysis of the event and more generally look at the class as an expert and outsider.

Gildas Morvan has an exceptional experience of Figaro racing, having taken part 21 times in the Solitaire du Figaro (second in 2008, third in 1999, 2000, 2001), four times French offshore solo racing champion (2000, 2008, 2009, 2013), and winner of the Transat AG2R (with Charlie Dalin in 2012). He also shone on other boats in particular on IMOCAs with Roland Jourdain and Jean Le Cam (4th in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2007).

"The negative point about this rapid progress with the appendages is that the gap between foilers and non-foilers is growing. Paul Meilhat sailed really well in the Azimut Challenge, but could not hold on towards the end of the race, when the conditions favoured the IMOCAs with foils. If we're looking at a transatlantic or round the world race, it is becoming very hard or even impossible for the IMOCAs with straight daggerboards to win."

"Sports need not only be competition, show, exercise etc. The great sporting talent may be considered as an artist among other artists - with a special genius to express themselves through their sporting ability." The film shows Paul Elvstrom's sail in three boat types, as he talks about his relationship with sailing.

International Maxi Association set to expand under new President Following its Annual General Meeting held during this month's Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the International Maxi Association, the World Sailing-recognised body that oversees maxi yacht racing globally, has announced its prize winners, voted in a new President and published its 2019 race program.

Taking over as President from Thomas Bscher, owner of the Wallycento 107 Open Season, is Benoit de Froidmont, who campaigns the Farr-designed Wally 60 Wallyno. The Geneva-based Luxembourger will serve for a three year term in office.

Over the last few years, under the Presidency of Thomas Bscher and on-going Secretary General Andrew McIrvine, the International Maxi Association has already expanded its operations considerably.

The J Class has become affiliated to the Association and thanks to this was permitted by World Sailing to hold its first ever World Championship last year in Newport, RI. Other classes of maxi boat (ie of 60+ft LOA) are expect to join forces with the International Maxi Association similarly in the near future.

In the Mini Maxis, the International Maxi Association has separated out the Maxi 72s into their own grand prix class, which compete for their own World Championship annually during the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. This has left the Mini Maxi class exclusively for more popular cruiser-racers, encompassing everything from 1970s Swan 65 ketches to their lightweight, high volume modern day equivalents such as the larger Mylius models, and Roberto Lacorte's Vismara Mills 62 RC SuperNikka. -- James Boyd, http://sailingintelligence.com

The International Maxi Association calendar has been published for 2019 and is set to include:

Golden Globe: Istvan Kopar goes to the aid of solo yachtsman in South Indian Ocean At 20:00 UTC on 26th September, Golden Globe Race HQ in Les Sables d'Olonne received a request from the manager of the 32ft sailing yacht Selene for assistance from any GGR yacht in the area because her skipper Kjell Litwin is running out of water.

Selene is currently some 3000 miles west of Perth, Western Australia and unexpectedly has only 10 ltrs of water left onboard.

Istvan Kopar, the American/Hungarian GGR solo skipper sailing his Tradewind 36 yacht Puffin, was 20 miles to the west and was asked by Race HQ to assist.

Selene's skipper Kjell Litwin, is on a solo non-stop circumnavigation, having left Falmouth UK on the 13th June this year. She was on the GGR marina rafted up with the GGR fleet for the Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail marking the 50th anniversay of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's departure in the first Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in 1968.

Litwin reports that he unexpectedly lost all water onboard.

During the past few hours GGR Race HQ has has confirmed that Istvan Kopar is happy to share his water and has a container onboard. The plan is for Istvan to throw a rope to Seline's skipper with a 20Ltr water container attached as Puffin sails past. Kopar can use his motor on approach.

Puffin's GPS position is being relayed by Race HQ and Kopar has confirmed that his is now in VHF radio contact with Selene's skipper.

Istvan is sailing in 30-35kt NW winds and 3-4m seas. It is still dark on scene with first light approx. an hour away. The wind and sea is forecast to moderate slowly during the day.

Seline is NOT in distress. In the opinion of GGR organisers, Kjell Litwin, the skipper of Selene knows that he is likely to catch rain water over the next month while sailing to Australia. But it is sensible seamanship to ask for water from any close vessels just in case. Istvan Kopar is more than happy to assist another sailor. Both yachts are expected to meet in the Southern ocean today.

10th Edition Of Selden Sailjuice Winter Series The 10th edition of the SailJuice Winter Series was launched last Friday on the Southampton Boat Show stand of Selden Mast Ltd, the new sponsor of the handicap winter racing series.

The same seven events of recent years constitute the 2018/19 season.

The Selden SailJuice Winter Series does indeed provide a place for parents and offspring to race together, an alternative for those families that want to race together. That will be a focus for the 10th edition, and there will be a prize to encourage more multigenerational teams to take part this season.

If previous seasons are to go by, there will be approximately one thousand competitors taking part in up to a hundred different types of boat, ranging in speed from the Optimist up to the International Moth. The willingness of the Selden SailJuice Winter Series and the Great Lakes Group - who run the handicap numbers for the Series - to accommodate virtually any kind of sailing dinghy into the competition is very attractive particularly to those fleets that struggle to establish a number on the RYA PY system. Equally, the Series has also proven popular with big fleets like the RS Aero who have the strength in numbers to run their separate events, yet still enjoy competing alongside other types of dinghy in mixed handicap competition.

The new perpetual trophy from Selden will be presented to last season's winner, Laser sailor Alistair Goodwin, who will get to enjoy the silver cup on his mantelpiece until next March when the new winner of the coming season will receive the trophy at the RYA Dinghy Show.

The following events constitute the Selden SailJuice Winter Series 2018/19):

Crewsaver, champions of the #LifejacketSafe campaign, launch instructional lifejacket 'HOW-TO' videos Join Crewsaver's very own Training Manager, Guy Page and #LifejacketSafe Ambassador, Hazel Proudlock, as they guide you through the step-by-step process of 'HOW-TO' rearm, repack and maintain your lifejacket. These videos are sure to give all lifejacket users the confidence to make the vital safety checks required before using out on the water. After all, a lifejacket is a lifesaving piece of equipment which your life could depend on.

Crewsaver is commited to raising awareness about lifejacket safety to all levels of user. This can be seen through its trailblazing lifejacket designs but also through the championing of the #LifejacketSafe campaign. As part of this campaign, these 'HOW-TO' videos, encourage people to not only wear a lifejacket but to give them the confidence and support to make sure it is well maintained and fit for purpose.

Letters To The Editor - Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From Robert Laine:

Scuttlebutt Europe 4184, in section "Rolex Fastnet organisers..." does contain a misrepresentation of reality : "The French have already snatched the Golden Globe race away from the Westcountry."

The move from Plymouth to les Sables has been an action from the organiser which could not get the support he deserved from UK, hence he approached Les Sables which bent backward (including french admin which was concerned about safety) to accomodate the Golden Globe Race at short notice. The word "snatch" has a very negative meaning (to quickly seize (something) in a rude or eager way.)

* From Guy Nowell: Editor, Sail-World Asia

The Golden Globe was a 100% English endeavour back when it started in 1968, and was won by an unquestionably full-blooded Englishman. How come it gravitated across to Les Sables d'Olonne?

And let's have no more talk of finishing the Fastnet in France. That would be like having Wimbledon at Roland-Garros.

CLARION was launched as a state of the art offshore racer, at time when beautiful boats were still a by-product of the designer's quest for speed - she remains much loved by her owners and certainly fast enough to hold her own in a modern or classic fleet.

This thoroughbred sailing yacht continues to turn heads and offer only transom views. Q-Class yachts offer fun racing for a bunch of friends in boats that look gorgeous - at the dock or on the water - with performance that lives up to looks.

"Bob" is unrecognisable from her original arrangement having gone through a huge optimisation process to bring her up to modern standards, such as square top mainsails, fixed longer bowsprits and most recently water tight bulkheads for safe ocean crossings....and certainly still a potent performer!